Another beautiful day in sunny California. It was only early morning and yet the bowl of sky above Tony Yarijanian's head was cloudless and promised a pleasant Sunday to follow. Tony Yarijanian, an automotive technician who was recognized by Fox News as "most honorable man in the area", was eager to get a little business done at his newest establishment; a salon he decorated himself in calming lime green and peach tones. When he entered the building and passed by his lifelike white tiger statue that fateful day; he felt relaxed right away. His safari design was pleasing to the eye. Tony Yarijanian smiled. He had recently celebrated thirteen years of marriage with his beautiful wife Anahid.
But time stopped as a deafening explosion that could be heard for miles away sent a pillar of smoke high up into the sky. The smoke rose so high, it could be seen a mile and a half away from the freeway where Pastor Rick happened to be idling at the junction… The flames rose a hundred feet into the air. Tony Yarijanian was in the midst of all this; and he was burning alive. This was to be the most harrowing day of his life. He couldn't even see in front of him to figure out what part of the building he was in; let alone escape! Flames glowed orange and yellow; completely surrounding him and blocking any exits.
A voice commanded Tony Yarijanian to "Roll on the ground!" He did not know where the voice came from but he obeyed. Somehow he ended up 150 feet from the building's entrance.
Later, in the hospital, someone asked Tony Yarijanian's wife Anahid if her husband was African American. The fact that he was Caucasian was not detectable. His face was swollen to the size of a basketball and at first Anahid Yarajanian insisted this was not her husband. She knew it was, and yet he was unrecognizable. He had a one percent chance for survival.
Prayer chains started immediately. Ani HAD to believe that her husband was a survivor and was not going to be a burn 'victim'. As of this writing, Tony Yarijanian's complete story is being made into a documentary. To see before and after pictures of this man is to be witness to Jesus' divine intervention. Of course, Tony Yarijanianwas no stranger to miracles. As a child he had survived bombing in Tehran and after a series of unexplained events overseas; he already had the reputation of being a "miracle man".
As a Guinness Record Holder™, Christian, and all-around family man Tony Yarijanian proved himself to be a man of courage, hope and faith. He is an example of someone extraordinary who finds greater purpose through painful trials. Being 'reborn through fire' is not a flashy or complicated story. It is the true story of real situations and fighting with tenacity to overcome the odds while miracles are being documented all around you.
